Tractor mounted buck rake



Dec. 15, 1953 Filed Dec. 26, 1951 C. W. NEILSEN TRACTOR MOUNTED BUCK RAKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Ch irrles W Neilsen BY M ATTORNEYS C. W. NEILSEN Deg. 15, 1953 TRACTOR MOUNTED BUCK RAKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 26, 1951 INVENTOR MAM/224, -r

ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 15, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TRACTOR MOUNTED BUCK RAKE Charles W. Neilsen, Sacramento, Calif.

Application December 26, 1951, Serial No. 263,138

11 Claims. (CI. 56-27) This invention relates generally to agricultural implements, especially a hay rake.

In particular the invention is directed to, and it is a major object to provide, a novel tractormounted buck rake; the buck rake being mounted at the rear of the tractor and supported in vertically adjustable relation by a power lift-type hitch on the tractor.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a tractor mounted buck rake, as above, wherein the rake is pivotally mounted in connection with the power lift type hitch on the tractor, but is provided with releasable means normally preventing downward tilting of the rake relative to said hitch. Upon release of such means the buck rake is tiltable downwardly at the rear end for discharging a load.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a tractor-mounted buck rake, as in the pre ceding paragraph, wherein said releasable means, to permit of tilting of the rake, is accessible to the operator from the seat of the tractor.

An additional object on the invention is to provide a buck rake which can be readily attached to, or detached from, the power lift-type hitch of a tractor with a minimum of time and effort.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tractor-mounted buck rake which is sturdy in construction; capable of long use without requiring any substantial maintenance or repair; and very convenient to manipulate between its working positions.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a tractor-mounted buck rake which is designed for ease and economy of manufacture.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a practical and reliable tractor-mounted buck rake, and one which is exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts, as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the buck rake, partly broken away, as mounted on a tractor.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same partly in section and broken away; the buck rake being shown in its carrying position in full lines; in its loading position in broken lines; and in its dumping position in dotted lines.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the buck 2 rake unit is indicated generally at I; such unit comprising a plurality of transversely spaced, rigid, longitudinally rearwardly projecting rake bars 2 fixed together at the front portion by rigid cross rods 3 and 4. At their rear or pick-up ends the rake bars 2 are blunt pointed, as shown.

An upstanding back frame 5 extends transversely of the rake unit I directly above, and is fixed to, the cross rod 3, being stabilized by rear diagonal braces 6. The rake unit I is formed, at the front and centrally of its sides, with a forwardly projecting tongue or box frame, indicated generally at l, and such box frame includes side beams 8 and a cross beam 9. Front diagonal braces 16 connect between the forward end of the box frame 1 and the top of the upstanding back frame 5.

The rake unit l is adapted to be coupled in draft and lift relation to a power lift-type bitch on the rear of a tractor, the latter being indicated generally at H, and such hitch including transversely spaced bottom links [2 which project rearwardly, in vertically swingable relation, from pivots I3 on the tractor. Above the bottom links H the hitch includes corresponding top lift links M connected, at their upper ends, to the outer ends of power actuated lift arms IS on the tractor.

The bottom links [2 and the top lift links id have some rearward divergence, and said latter links are pivoted at their rearmost ends, as at 6, to the adjacent ends of rearwardly and downwardly extending extension links ll which have a substantially perpendicular lower end portion [8.

The extension links I! at their lower ends, and the bottom links I2 at their rear ends, are pivoted in common, as at I9, to the adjacent ends of a cross bar 20.

The cross bar 20 rests atop the cross rod 3 of the rake unit I centrally of its sides, and said cross bar 20 is affixed to the cross rod 3 by tie bolts 2!.

With the rake unit I thus connected to the power lift type hitch on the tractor, the box frame l projects forwardly to a front end termination adjacent, but vertically swinging between, the transversely spaced bottom links 52.

In order to normally maintain the rake unit 6 against downward tilting about the pivots l9 and from the transport position, as in full lines in Fig. 2, the following releasable holding means is provided:

The front cross beam 9 is tubular, and plungers 22 slidably engage in opposite end portions of simple said cross beam 9; the plungers 22 normally projecting out from the adjacent ends of said cross beam 9 and engaging in abutment beneath the related bottom links I2. As a consequence the box frame 1 is prevented from upward swinging between the bottom links [2, and the rake unit I cannot tilt downwardly at its rear end.

The plungers 22 are adapted to be retracted into the cross beam 9 so as to permit, at the selection of the operator, the-"box: frame 1 to swing upwardly between the bottom links [2 so that the rake unit I may tilt downwardly at the rear to a discharge position, as in dotted lines"; in Fig. 2; the plungers 22 being actuated by the following mechanism:

Adjacent their inner ends the plungers 21 are each fitted with a lateral pin 23 which proiects through a corresponding lon'g-itu'dinah'slot il the tubular cross beam 9. An upstanding, laterally swingable hand lever 25 is pivoted, ad-

jacent but short of its lower end, as at 26, to the croslsb "am .9 "centrally off the? ends or the latt Actu'fat injg. :lifiks' z'l f aie "pivotally "connected" twee the projectingfportiohfs oflthfpin's 23 a d the'lever 2 jat points 2.8 and 29 above and the'shaft With'this arrangement, g1 g of the lever'25, in ondirection," as in full" es" infEigj. 3', projects the plungeiis 2 2 beneath the bottom links 1'2, while swinging of, the lever in figure, retracts the p unges 221mm; the e s pcsition shown in broken lines i Fig. 2; and thenthe'trac'tor is backed, up so thatithe 2 f.

run" under the'load. v

'lfhenthe hitch on the tractor is actuated to cause the rake unit Ito lift tol thletransport positidfifshojwfnfliri fullflilles in 2,.and' the tractbif is er d ewe a e?assimilate? A of discharge." 1

Atfthfpoiht of discharge the operator swings the'l'eve'r 25 inadi'rection toretr'a-ct'the plungeis' 22 whereupon the rake unit I tilts downwardly'gas indott'eddines in" Fig. 2,'du'mp"1 n'g the loadfand Y which dumping maybe facllitated.by 'slight for; movement. 'or' the tractor; "Thereafter, by

pp opriate lowering'inotiofi 6f the hitch on the:

tractoig followed by Suitab elmanipulation ofith lever 25, the plungers22 are reengaged beneath the bottom links I2,

If desired, the rake unit I may be fitted, at the forward portion, and on top of the 'rakebars 2,; with a full width top plate 3| which tendsf tdsupg port the load. directly ahead of "the ups'tanding baknfigm 5- w .7

ithIthe-described traci lormounted buck rake haypr 'the'lik'e 'can' be readily and conveniently having a power lift type hitch embodying transpicked up, transported.and unloaded; all with out the operatoi'leavifighis seat onith'e timacto'fl- Whenthe 'buck rake is notin use itfmayfbe being of a widthzand disposedtoD81 1 t- 1 Ward;

conveniently" removed from the tractor by the:

.xpe and [9,

From" the foregoingdescription it will be read- 11y i ati ah s be nprqduce Such a e tiallyfulfillsthe objects of the-i vice as substa invention, as set forth herein.

dient of detaching the: pivots 16,

w il i specificati n ets fo th. n et l the P es nt-ar d p ete sicqa t u qp.. i t 1device,-,

versely spacecT topj -links a 1 '1d1 trai'isjversjelyf spaced bottom ll'nks'f-comprisinga'rigid rake unit projecting rearwardly from the hitch, said rake unit ineluding transversely spaced, rearwardly projecting longitudinalrake bars, means pivotally connecting" corresponding top and bottom links to the rake-'-i'1nitat theiront in common and in transversel y spaced relation whereby the rake unit is tilfabl aewmvsraiy-at the rear, and releasable meansbetween the rake unit and hitch normally operative to hold said rake against such downra-e ti e maca- A ele ataa n. la 1, n. w ich sa d,- lea ahle ea e pnpri es. rigid q wai v ie fien niha 'akeani o mea s u edt on sa qhmiseiioa 9rz e eni n be ena 12 2a: on below 9ti9m. in and a. osit on c ear he e-0i; mid. h l -$3 ZQR P QFWQ w iite. 1 stop means between said positions,

sh clsm sa a a' a ni. 2, aw ich sa e ife w rd rqie t pn. disp se n ra ly o -rakeun t; nd-i f Widt o Permi of wine: ing d; rQi 12 9 pwa l etween e. ot; tom links. a

buqk. ak o ea m uatine. a ractor av n a ower, i t. y hi c fimmd natrans;

r ys' ac d to nk and transvers ly;.s ace the rakeunit at the ;f11ont in common andin;

transversely; spaced g relation whereby the rake unit is ti-ltable downwardly at the rear, a rigid for; rdnrqi ct on* ntharak u t. andstonmea a between said projection and at least one ofthe bottom links operative ,to prevent downward tilting of; the rake runit at, the' rear.

5.;1Af buck-rake,- as in claim 4, in whichsaid, stopmeansipisrretractablcto' a position clear ofthe, bottomzi nksi andxthexprojection is disposed to,

swing vertically between said bottom links 6: ktbuck-ra-ke, forrearmounting on a tractor having .a"DOWBI;1ift;type:hitch.embodying trans,-,

versely: spacedz-top links: and. transversely spaced bottom dinksibomprisi'rigpa rigid rake unitprojectingyrearwardly-fron1:the hitch; said rake, unit including'trjansversely spaced, rearwardly, pro-, jecting, longitudinal::rake bars, a relatively short cross :bar. fixed cent'rallyon said rake unit atv the downwardly at the rear, a rigid forward projection; on; the;- rake; unit; said .forward projection swin ing:between:thebottom links, and releasiablestop,meansgbetween said projection andat least onel:of-;the:;bottom linlgsjoperative to pre:' vent downward ,tiltin i of. the rake unitat the.

rear. I

bQttQm nks. com ri n l i id. r ketunit pros jecting rearwardly from the hitch, said rake unit including transversely spaced, rearwardly projecting, longitudinal rake bars, means pivotally connecting corresponding top and bottom links to the rake unit at the front in transversely spaced relation whereby the rake unit is tiltable downwardly at the rear, a rigid frame projecting forwardly from the rake unit centrally of its sides, said projectingframe being of a width to swing between the bottom links, laterally shiftable plungers mounted on the projecting frame adjacent the front thereof for shifting motion between a position abutting corresponding bottom links from below and a position clear thereof, and means operative to so shift said plungers simultaneously.

8. A buck rake, as in claim 7, in which said last named means includes an upstanding laterally swingable lever pivoted on the projecting frame, and opposed action links pivotally connected between the lever and corresponding plungers.

9. A buck rake, as in claim 8, in which the projecting frame includes a tubular front beam, the plungers being slidable in opposite end portions thereof, said front beam having longitudinal slots alongside the plungers, pins on the plungers ex-- tending through the slots, the lever being pivoted intermediate its ends on the cross beam intermediate the slots, and said opposed action links being pivotally connected between the pins and lever at points above and below the lever piv t.

10. A buck rake, for rear mounting on a tractor having a power lift type hitch embodying transversely spaced top links and transversely spaced bottom links, comprising a rigid rake unit projecting rearwardly from the hitch, said rake unit including transversely spaced, rearwardly projecting, longitudinal rake bars, a relatively short cross bar fixed centrally on said rake unit at the front, the top links of the hitch being initially relatively short, rearwardly and downwardly inclined link extensions connected to the rear ends of the top links, means pivotally connecting the rear ends of corresponding bottom links and top link extensions in common to the related ends of the cross bar, and means engaged between the rake unit and hitch normally operative to prevent downward tilting of the rake unit about said pivotal connections.

11. A buck rake for rear mounting on a tractor having a power lift hitch which includes transversely spaced bottom draft links, said rake comprising a rigid rake unit, means pivoting the unit at its forward end on the links at their rear end, a projection frame rigid with the unit and extending ahead of the pivot means in laterally spaced relation to the links, a stop mounted on the projection frame and normally extending laterally under one of the links intermediate the ends thereof, and means mounted on the projection frame and operable at will to withdraw the stop from under said link.

CHARLES W. NEILSEN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,151,436 Nicholas et al Mar. 21, 1939 2,271,591 Hickman Feb. 3, 1942 2,373,710 Rutledge Apr. 17, 1945 2,468,297 Jones Apr, 26, 1949 2,499,550 Webb Mar. 7. 1950 

